Electronic document delivery

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and computer readable medium for converting paper documents ( 134 ) to electronic documents ( 138 ) and sending the electronic documents ( 138 ) to at least one destination ( 144 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to converting documents from paper toelectronic form, and more particularly, to a method for automaticconversion of a paper document to an electronic document and delivery ofthe electronic document to a desired destination.

2. Description of Background Art

People often wish to send copies of paper documents to a remotedestination. These people sending copies of paper documents to remotedestinations are “sending users.” However, conventional methods forperforming this task are unsatisfactory.

In conventional methods for scanning and sending the document over theInternet, the sending user must manually enter many commands. Thesending user first enters commands to scan the paper document. If thepaper document has more than one page, the sending user then enterscommands to combine the scanned pages into a single electronic document.The sending user then enters commands to send the electronic document tothe destination. This requires the sending user to perform multiplesteps, which is time consuming and inefficient.

Faxing is another conventional method for sending copies of paperdocuments to a remote destination. Faxing, too, has drawbacks. If thesending user faxes the document, the receiver must have the capabilityto receive faxes. Fax machines provide poor image quality. Also, the faxcannot be sent if the receiving fax machine is busy.

A third conventional method for sending copies of paper documents to aremote destination is to physically send a paper copy of the document.This can be done by overnight mail or a courier, for example. However,physically sending a paper copy of the document is expensive and takesmore time than electronic delivery.

What is needed, therefore, is a method and system that allows a sendinguser to quickly and easily convert paper documents to electronicdocuments and send the electronic documents to a destination.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is a system, method, and computer readable mediumfor converting paper documents (134) to electronic documents (138) andsending the electronic documents (138) to at least one destination(144).

The method includes the step of sending commands (142), from a servercomputer (102) to a sending computer (114) with a connected scanner(122), that control the sending computer (114) to scan the paperdocument (134), generate the electronic document (138), and send theelectronic document (138) to the server computer (102). The method alsoincludes the steps of receiving the electronic document (138) at theserver computer (102) and sending the electronic document (138) to thedestination (144).

The system (100) includes a user interface module (108). The userinterface module (108) receives a selected destination (144) from asending computer (114). In response, the user interface module (108)sends commands (142) to the sending computer (114). A command module(130) connected to the user interface module (108) generates thecommands (142). The commands (142) control the sending computer (114) toscan a paper document (134), generate an electronic document (138), andsend the electronic document (138) to the user interface module (108). Adistribution module (146) is connected to the user interface module(108). After the user interface module (108) receives the electronicdocument (138), the user interface module (108) sends the electronicdocument (138) to the distribution module (146). The distribution module(146) then sends the electronic document (138) to the selecteddestination (144).

An advantage of the present invention is that it allows a sending user(136) to quickly and easily convert a paper document (134) to anelectronic document (138) and send the electronic document (138) to aselected destination (144).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other more detailed and specific objects and features ofthe present invention are more fully disclosed in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for converting paper documents toelectronic documents and sending the electronic documents to adestination.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating how the system scans a paperdocument, generates the electronic document, and sends the electronicdocument to the destination.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot detailing how a sending user selects a generaldestination.

FIG. 4( a) is a screen shot detailing how the sending user entersarchiving information.

FIG. 4( b) is a screen shot detailing how the sending user identifies aspecific printer

FIG. 4( c) is a screen shot detailing how the sending user identifies aspecific email address to which the electronic document will be sent,when the electronic document is sent as an attachment to the emailmessage.

FIG. 4( d) is a screen shot detailing how the sending user identifies aspecific email address to which directions for retrieving the electronicdocument will be sent.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot detailing how the sending user selects scanparameters.

FIG. 6( a) is a screen shot showing that a receiving user receives anemail.

FIG. 6( b) is a screen shot showing a confirmation email received by thesending user.

FIG. 6( c) is a screen shot showing how the receiving user accesses theelectronic document.

FIG. 6( d) is a screen shot showing what the receiving user sees afterentering a PCode and phone number into the screen shown in FIG. 6( c).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a system, method, and computer readable mediumfor converting paper documents 134 to electronic documents 138 andsending the electronic documents 138 to at least one destination 144.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for converting paper documents134 to electronic documents 138 and sending the electronic documents 138to at least one destination 144. The system 100 includes a servercomputer 102. The server computer 102 is connected to storage 110 and toa network 112. In one embodiment, the network 112 is the Internet.However, other networks 112 may also be used.

The server computer 102 includes a user interface module (a “UI module”)108, a command module 130, a print module 106, a message module 128, anda repository module 104. Each of these modules can be implemented insoftware, hardware, or firmware.

The UI module 108 sends information to a sending computer 114 via anetwork 112. The information the UI module 108 sends to the sendingcomputer 114 includes data to provide a user interface, as well ascommands 142 from the command module 130 that control the sendingcomputer 114. In one embodiment, the UI module 108 sends Web pages toprovide the user interface, and the commands 142 are ActiveX commands.The UI module 108 also receives information from the sending computer114 via the network 112. The information the UI module 108 receives fromthe sending computer 114 includes the sending user's 136 preferences forscanning the paper document 134, at least one destination 144 selectedby the sending user 136 for the electronic document 138, and theelectronic document 138 itself. Possible destinations 144 include adocument repository 140, a printer 126, another user (known as a“receiving user” 132), and a facsimile (“fax”) machine 147. Otherdestinations 144 are also possible. The UI module 108 also communicateswith the command module 130, the print module 106, the message module128, and the repository module 104.

The command module 130 of the server computer 102 generates commands 142that control the sending computer 114. In one embodiment, the commands142 are ActiveX commands that control the sending computer 114 to scanthe paper document 134, generate the electronic document 138, and sendthe electronic document 138 to the server computer 102. The commandmodule 130 sends the commands 142 to the user interface module 108,which in turn sends the commands 142 to the sending computer 114.

The repository module 104, the message module 128, and the print module106 are all distribution modules 146, which function to distribute theelectronic document 138 to the selected destination. Other distributionmodules 146 also exist in other embodiments to send the electronicdocument 138 to other destinations 144. After the server computer 102receives the electronic document 138 at the user interface module 108,the user interface module 108 sends the electronic document 138 to theappropriate distribution module 146, according to the selecteddestination 144.

The message module 128 receives the electronic document 138 from the UImodule 108 if the selected destination 144 is a receiving user 132, andthe electronic document 138 is to be sent to the receiving user 132 asan attachment to a message. In such a case, the message module 128 sendsa message to the receiving user 132 with the electronic document 138attached. In one embodiment, this message is an electronic mail message(an “email”).

If the selected destination 144 is a receiving user 132, and theelectronic document 138 is not to be sent to the receiving user 132 asan attachment, the electronic document 138 is sent from the UI module108 to the repository module 104. The repository module 104 sendsinformation needed to retrieve the electronic document 138 to themessage module 128. The message module 128 then sends a message to thereceiving user 132 with instructions on how the receiving user 132 mayaccess the electronic document 138.

The receiving user 132 receives the electronic document 138 using areceiving computer 124. The receiving user 132 accesses the network 112using the receiving computer 124. In one embodiment, the receivingcomputer 124 is a personal computer. The receiving user 132 uses thereceiving computer 124 to access the receiving user's 132 message, whicheither includes the electronic document 138 as an attachment or includesinstructions how to access the electronic document 138.

If the selected destination 144 is a document repository 140, therepository module 104 receives the electronic document 138 from the UImodule 108. The repository module 104 then sends the electronic document138 to the document repository 140 located in storage 110. In oneembodiment, the storage 110 is a hard disk drive, although other datastorage devices may also be used. The repository module 104 also sendsto the document repository archiving information that identifies theelectronic document 138 and allows later retrieval of the electronicdocument 138 from the document repository 140 in storage 110. Therepository module 104 manages the document repository 140 to correctlystore and track the electronic documents 138 so that the electronicdocuments 138 may be retrieved at a later time. The repository module104 also receives and stores the electronic document 138 if the selecteddestination is a receiving user 132, and the electronic document 138 isnot to be sent to the receiving user 132 as an attachment.

If the selected destination is a receiving user 132, and the electronicdocument 138 is not to be sent to the receiving user 132 as anattachment, the repository module 104 sends to the message module 128information needed by the receiving user 132 to access the electronicdocument 138 to the message module 128. The message module 128 thensends this information to the receiving user 132.

If a paper copy of the electronic document 138 is to be printed, theprint module 106 of the server computer 102 sends the electronicdocument 138 to a destination printer 126. The print module 106 mayreceive the electronic document 138 and the identity of the destinationprinter 126 from either the UI module 108 or the repository module 104.If the selected destination 144 is a printer 126, the print module 106receives the electronic document 138 from the UI module 108. If thereceiving user 132 accessed the electronic document 138 in the documentrepository 140, the receiving user 132 may choose to print theelectronic document 138. In such a case, the repository module 104retrieves the electronic document 138 from the document repository 140and sends the electronic document 138 to the print module 106. Whileonly one printer 126 is shown in FIG. 1, multiple printers 126 areconnected to the network 112 and are available to print the electronicdocument 138. The print module 106 keeps track of the available printers126 and sends the electronic document 138 to the destination printer 126to be printed.

If the electronic document 138 is to be sent to a fax machine 147, a faxmodule (not shown) of the server computer 102 sends the electronicdocument 138 to a destination fax machine 147. The fax module mayreceive the electronic document 138 from either the UI module 108 or therepository module 104. If the selected destination 144 is a fax machine147, the fax module receives the electronic document 138 from the UImodule 108. If the receiving user 132 accessed the electronic document138 in the document repository 140, the receiving user 132 may choose tofax the electronic document 138. In such a case, the repository module104 retrieves the electronic document 138 from the document repository140 and sends the electronic document 138 to the fax module. While onlyone fax machine 147 is shown in FIG. 1, multiple fax machines 147 areconnected to the network 112 and are available to receive the electronicdocument 138. The fax module sends the electronic document 138 to thedestination fax machine 147.

The sending computer 114 sends the selected destination 144 and theelectronic document 138 to the server computer 102. In one embodiment,the sending computer 114 is a personal computer. While only one sendingcomputer 114 is shown in FIG. 1, multiple sending computers 114 mayexist. Each sending computer 114 is connected to the network 112. Byhaving multiple sending computers 114 at multiple different locations,the sending user 136 may send the paper document 134 from many differentlocations. A scanner 122 is connected to the sending computer 114 via aTWAIN interface module 120 in the described embodiment. In otherembodiments, the scanner 122 is connected to the sending computer 114via other interfaces. The TWAIN interface module 120 is connected to ascan module 118, which controls the scanner 122 via the TWAIN interfacemodule 120. The sending computer 114 includes a communication module 116that receives information from the UI module 108 and sends informationto the UI module 108. In one embodiment, the communication module 116 isa Web browser. The browser receives the Web pages and ActiveX commands142 sent from the UI module 108.

A receiving computer 124 is also connected to the Internet 112. Thereceiving computer 124 is one possible destination for the electronicdocument 138. Again, while only one receiving computer 124 is shown inFIG. 1, many may exist. This allows receiving users 132 at manydifferent locations to receive the electronic document 138.

In operation, the communication module 116 of the sending computer 114receives the Web pages sent by the UI module 108 and displays them toprovide an interface that allows a sending user 136 to select adestination 144 for the electronic document 138. In some embodiments,the sending user 136 may select multiple destinations 144 for theelectronic document 138.

The UI module 108 of the server computer 102 receives the identity ofthe destination 144 from the communication module 116. The commandmodule 130 generates commands 142 and sends the commands 142 to the UImodule 108. The UI module 108 then sends the commands 142 to the sendingcomputer 114. The communication module 116 receives the commands 142from the UI module 108. The communication module 116 then sends thecommands 142 to the scan module 118. In response to the commands 142,the scan module 118 controls the scanner through the TWAIN interface 120to scan the paper document 134 and generate the electronic document 138.The scan module 118 sends the electronic document 138 to thecommunication module. The communication module 116 then sends theelectronic document 138 to the server computer 102 via the network 112.

The server computer 102 receives the electronic document 138 at the UImodule 108. After receiving the electronic document 138, the servercomputer 102 sends the electronic document 138 to one of thedistribution modules 146, which sends the electronic document 138 to theselected destination 144, previously received from the sending computer114.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart 200 illustrating how the system 100 scans thepaper document 134, generates the electronic document 138, and sends theelectronic document 138 to the destination 144.

First, the sending user 136 logs in 202 from the sending computer 114.In one embodiment, the sending computer 114 is a personal computer witha scanner 122 connected via a TWAIN interface, with an Internetconnection, and an Internet browser acting as the communication module116. In this embodiment, any computer with the Internet connection,browser, and scanner 122 with TWAIN interface may be used as the sendingcomputer 114. Since many computers have all these items, there are alarge number of computers available for use as a sending computer 114,providing many locations from which to send the paper document 134,which provides the sending user 136 with flexibility and choice. Tolog-in, the sending user 136 accesses a Web site using the browser. Inresponse, the UI module 108 of the server computer 102 sends a log-inWeb page to the sending computer 114. The sending user 136 enters log-ininformation, which includes a user name and password. This informationis sent to the server computer 102.

In one embodiment, the scan module 118 is implemented in software. Attime of log-in, the sending computer 114 may or may not have the scanmodule 118 software installed. The server computer 102 detects whetherthe sending computer 114 has the scan module 118 software installed. Ifthe sending computer 114 does not have the software, the server computer102 sends 204 the software to the sending computer 114. The sendingcomputer 114 installs 206 the software upon receiving it. Thus, thesending computer 114 does not need to have the scan softwarepre-installed in order to use the scanning system 100. By logging intothe server computer 102, the sending computer 114 will receive the scansoftware. By not requiring sending computers 114 to have the scansoftware pre-installed, the system 100 allows many computers to functionas sending computers 114.

After installing 206 the scan software, or after logging in 202 if thesending computer 114 already has the scan software installed, the servercomputer 102 sends 208 to the sending computer 114 a destination typeselection Web page that allows the sending user 136 to select thedestination type. The communication module 116 of the sending computer114 displays the Web page and the sending user 136 enters informationselecting 210 the destination type. In the described embodiment, thedestination type is a printer 126, the document repository 140, areceiving user 132, or a fax machine 147. Other embodiments haveadditional destination types, and in some embodiments, the sending user136 may select multiple destination types. The identity of the selecteddestination type is sent to the server computer 102.

In response to the selected destination type, the server computer sends211 to the sending computer 114 a specific destination selection Webpage that allows the sending user 136 to select the specificdestination. The communication module 116 of the sending computer 114displays the Web page and the sending user 136 enters informationselecting 213 the specific destination. The specific destination is theparticular destination within the destination type where the electronicdocument is to be sent. For the destination type of “printers,” aspecific printer is the specific destination. Similarly, a locationwithin the document repository 140 is the specific destination for thedocument repository 140 destination type, a particular receiving user isthe specific destination for the receiving user destination type, and aparticular fax machine telephone number is the specific destination forthe fax machine destination type.

The server computer then sends 212 a Web page to the sending computer114 that allows the sending user 136 to select 214 scanning parameters.The server computer 102 receives the scanning parameters that thesending user 136 selects.

At this point, the server computer 102 has received the destinationtype, the specific destination, and the scanning parameters. The servercomputer 102 generates scanning commands 142 and sends 216 the scanningcommands 142 to the sending computer 114. In one embodiment, thescanning commands 142 are embedded in a Web page as an ActiveX controlcomponent and sent from the server computer 102 to the sending computer114.

The communication module 116 of the sending computer 114 receives 218the ActiveX scanning commands 142 from the server computer 102. Thecommunication module 116 sends the scanning commands 142 to the scanmodule 118.

In response to the commands 142, the scan module 118 controls the TWAINinterface module 120 to scan 220 the paper document 134. To scan thepaper document 134, the scan module 118 sends signals to the TWAINinterface module 120, which controls the scanner 122 to scan the paperdocument 134. The scanner 122 returns an electronic representation ofeach page of the paper document 134 to the TWAIN interface 120.

The scan module 118 then receives the electronic representation of eachpage of the paper document 134 from the TWAIN interface and generates222 the electronic document 138. In one embodiment, to generate 222 theelectronic document 138, the scan module 118 converts the electronicrepresentations into PDF-format electronic files. The scan module 118combines the PDF-format electronic files into the electronic document138.

The scan module 118 sends the electronic document 138 to thecommunication module 116, which in turn sends 224 the electronicdocument 138 to the server computer 102. After receiving the electronicdocument 138, the server computer 102 sends 226 the electronic document138 to the selected destination.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot 300 detailing how the sending user 136 selects210 a type of destination. After selecting the type of destination 144,the sending user 136 still must select the specific destination 144. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sending user 136 may select thedocument repository 140, a printer 126, or a receiving user 132 as thedestination type. To select the document repository 140 as thedestination type, the sending user 136 clicks on “Store” 302. To selecta printer as the destination type, the sending user 136 clicks on“RemoteCopy” 306. To select the receiving user 132 as the destinationtype, the sending user 136 clicks on. “Send” 304. In some embodiments,when the receiving user 132 is the destination type, the electronicdocument 138 is sent to the receiving user 132 as an attachment to anemail. In other embodiments, an email with instructions describing howto access the document is sent to the receiving user 132. In someembodiments, to select a fax machine 147 as the destination type, thesending user 136 clicks on “fax” (not shown).

The screen shown in FIG. 3 also allows a receiving user 132 to accessthe electronic document 138, which has previously been sent to thedocument repository 140. To do so, the receiving user 132 selects“Pickup” 308. The receiving user 132 may then view, download, or printthe electronic document 138.

FIGS. 4( a) through 4(d) detail how a sending user 136 selects thespecific destination 144 after choosing the destination type.

FIG. 4( a) is a screen shot 400 detailing how a sending user 136 entersarchiving information that identifies the electronic document 138 andallows later retrieval of the electronic document 138 from the documentrepository 140. This occurs after the sending user 136 has selected thedocument repository 140 as the destination type. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 4( a), the sending user 136 enters a name for the electronicdocument 138 in the name field 402, chooses a folder in which theelectronic document 138 will be stored from the folder menu 404, choosesa category for the electronic document 138 from the category menu 406,enters any key words in the Keyword field 408, enters a creation date inthe date field 410, and chooses an origin for the document from theorigin menu 412. The server computer 102 receives and stores thisinformation.

The UI module 108 of the server computer 102 receives the electronicdocument 138. The UI module 108 sends the electronic document 138 to therepository module 104. The repository module 104 sends the electronicdocument 138 to storage 110, where the electronic document 138 is storedin the document repository 140 according to the archiving informationthe server computer 102 already received.

Thus, the sending user 136 may send the document to a documentrepository 140 from remote locations using a sending computer 114connected to a scanner 122 and a network 112. Also, the sending user 136does not need to separately scan the paper document 134, combine theresulting electronic images into the electronic document 138, and sendthe electronic document 138 to the document repository 140. Once thesending user 136 selects the destination 144, the server computer 102sends commands 142 to control the sending computer 114 to perform thesefunctions automatically.

FIG. 4( b) is a screen shot 420 detailing how a sending user 136identifies a specific printer 126 after choosing a printer 126 as thedestination type. As discussed previously, FIG. 1 shows one printer 126connected to the network 112. However, many printers 126 may beconnected to the network 112 and available to the server computer 102 toprint the electronic document 138. An identification of each of theprinters 126 that is available to print the electronic document 138 isaccessible from the screen shown in FIG. 4( b). In the embodiment shownin FIG. 4( b), the printers 126 are listed in a printer menu 422 on theWeb page. The sending user 136 selects the printer 126 on which to printthe electronic document 138 from the printer menu 422.

The server computer 102 receives the identification of the selectedprinter 126. When the server computer 102 receives the electronicdocument 138 from the sending computer 114, the UI module 108 receivesthe electronic document 138. The UI module 108 sends the electronicdocument 138 to the print module 106. The print module 106 sends theelectronic document 138 to the selected printer 126, where a paper copyof the electronic document 138 is printed.

Thus, the sending user 136 may cause a paper copy of the paper document134 to be delivered to a remote location cheaply and quickly, bychoosing the printer 126 at that location. The final print quality ishigher than a fax, depending on the printer capabilities. Also, faxmachines may be busy and prevent a connection at a time when a sendinguser 136 wishes to send a paper copy of the paper document 134,necessitating further attempts to fax.

If the sending user 136 selects a receiving user 132 as the destination144 for the electronic document 138, the sending user 136 may send theelectronic document 138 to the receiving user 132 in two ways. Thesending user 136 may send the electronic document 138 to the receivinguser 132 as an attachment to an email. Alternatively, the servercomputer 102 stores the electronic document 138 in storage 110 and sendsan email with information that tells how to retrieve the electronicdocument 138 to the receiving user 132.

After choosing the receiving user 132 as the destination type, thesending user 136 chooses whether to send the electronic document 138 tothe receiving user 132 as an email attachment, or to send an email tothe receiving user 132 with instructions on how to retrieve theelectronic document 138, which is stored in storage 110.

FIG. 4( c) is a screen shot 440 detailing how the sending user 136identifies the specific email address to which the electronic document138 will be sent, in embodiments where the electronic document 138 issent as an attachment to the email message. The sending user 136 entersthe sending user's 136 email address in the sender field 442, thereceiving user's 132 email address in the receiver field 444, a subjectfor the email message in the subject field 446, optionally, a message inthe message field 448, and chooses an origin from the origin menu 450.The server computer 102 receives and stores this information.

When the server computer 102 receives the electronic document 138 fromthe sending computer 114, the UI module 108 receives the electronicdocument 138. The UI module 108 sends the electronic document 138 to themessage module 128. The message module 128 sends an email to thereceiving user's 132 email address. The electronic document 138 is sentas an attachment to the email. Thus, the receiving user 132 receives theelectronic document 138, and may review, print, modify, or otherwise usethe electronic document 138.

Thus, the sending user 136 may send the electronic document 138 to areceiving user 132 using a receiving computer 124 connected to thenetwork 112. Also, the sending user 136 does not need to separately scanthe paper document 134, combine the resulting electronic images into theelectronic document 138, attach the electronic document 138 to an emailmessage, and send the email to the receiving user 132. Once the sendinguser 136 selects the destination 144, the server computer 102 sendscommands 142 to control the sending computer 114 to perform thesefunctions automatically. Further, the receiving user 132 may receive theelectronic document 138 at any location where there is a receivingcomputer 124.

FIG. 4( d) is a screen shot 460 detailing how the sending user 136identifies the email address to which directions for retrieving theelectronic document 138 will be sent, in embodiments where the receivinguser 132 receives an email with instructions for retrieving theelectronic document 138 instead of receiving the electronic document asan attachment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4( d), the sending user136 enters his or her email address in the sender's email field 462, thereceiving user's 132 email address in the recipient's email field 464,the receiving user's 132 phone number in the recipient's phone numberfield 466, and a subject for the email in the subject field 468. Theserver computer 102 receives and stores this information.

The UI module 108 of the server computer 102 receives the electronicdocument 138. The UI module 108 sends the electronic document 138 to therepository module 104, which stores the electronic document 138 in thedocument repository 140 in storage 110. The repository module 104 sendsinformation needed to access the electronic document 138 to the messagemodule 128. The message module 128 sends an email to the receivinguser's 132 email address. The email sent to the receiving user's 132email address contains directions disclosing how the receiving user 132may access the electronic document 138.

Thus, the sending user 136 may give a receiving user 132, using areceiving computer 124 connected to the network 112, access to theelectronic document 138. The sending user 136 does not need toseparately scan the paper document 134, combine the resulting electronicimages into the electronic document 138, send the electronic document138 to the document repository 140 in storage 110, and send thereceiving user 132 an email with instructions how to access theelectronic document 138. Once the sending user 136 selects thedestination, the server computer 102 sends commands 142 to control thesending computer 114 to perform these functions automatically. Further,the receiving user 132 may receive the electronic document 138 at anylocation where there is a receiving computer 124.

To identify the particular fax machine 147 to which the electronicdocument will be sent, the sending user 136 enters a fax machinetelephone number in a fax machine telephone number field. The servercomputer 102 receives the fax machine telephone number. When the servercomputer 102 receives the electronic document 138 from the sendingcomputer 114, the UI module 108 receives the electronic document 138.The UI module 108 sends the electronic document 138 to the fax module.The fax module sends the electronic document 138 to the selected faxmachine 147.

Thus, the sending user 136 may send the paper document 134 to a remotefax machine 147 quickly, by choosing the remote fax machine. Also, ifthe fax machine 147 is busy and unable to accept a connection at a timewhen a sending user 136 wishes to send the fax, the server computer iscapable of making repeated fax attempts until the fax machine 147 canreceive the fax.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot 500 detailing how the sending user 136 selects214 the scan parameters. The sending user 136 chooses an image formatfrom the format menu 502, an image resolution from the resolution menu504, a page size for the paper document 134 from the page size menu 506,and scanning brightness from the brightness controls 508. Afterreceiving the scan parameters, the server computer 102 sends to thesending computer 114 the commands 142, generated by the command module130, to scan the paper document 134, generate the electronic document138, and send the electronic document 138 to the server computer 102, asdiscussed above.

FIGS. 6( a) through 6(d) detail what happens after the sending user 136enters the information shown in FIG. 4( d). FIG. 6( a) is a screen shot600 showing that the receiving user 132 receives an email. This emailinforms the receiving user 132 that he or she has received theelectronic document 138. The email also informs the receiving user 132how to access the electronic document 138. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6( a), the email message includes a Web address for the receivinguser 132 to visit to access the electronic document 138, as well as aPCode for the electronic document 138. The PCode is a unique identifierfor the electronic document 138.

In some embodiments, the sending user 136 receives confirmation that theelectronic document 138 was sent to the receiving user 132. FIG. 6( b)is a screen shot 620 showing a confirmation email received by thesending user 136. This email confirms that the server computer 102 sentthe electronic document 138 to the receiving user 132. The email alsoprovides information needed to access the electronic document 138. Thus,the sending user 136, as well as the receiving user 132, may access theelectronic document 138.

FIG. 6( c) is a screen shot 640 showing how the receiving user 132accesses the electronic document 138. After the receiving user 132accesses the Web address specified in the email, the Web page shown inFIG. 6( c) is presented to the receiving user 132. The receiving user132 enters the information identifying the electronic document 138. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6( c), the information identifying theelectronic document 138 is the PCode. The email sent to the receivinguser 132, shown in FIG. 6( a), provided the receiving user 132 with thePCode for the electronic document 138. The receiving user 132 entersthis PCode into the PCode field 642.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6( c), the receiving user 132 alsoenters his or her phone number into the phone field 644. This providesconfirmation that the receiving user 132 is the person accessing theelectronic document 138. In an alternative embodiment, the receivinguser 132 may register with a password prior to retrieving the electronicdocument 138. The receiving user 132 then enters his or her passwordinto a password field (not shown) instead of their phone number into thephone field 644.

FIG. 6( d) is a screen shot 660 showing what the receiving user 132 seesafter entering the PCode and phone number into the screen 640 shown inFIG. 6( c). As shown in FIG. 6( d), the receiving user 132 has a choiceof how to receive the electronic document 138. The receiving user 132may view the electronic document 138 by selecting the view button 662.This provides the receiving user 132 with the ability to view theelectronic document 138 in electronic form. The receiving user 132 mayalso select to print a paper copy of the electronic document 138 byselecting the print button 664. After selecting the print button, thereceiving user 132 is then presented with a printer selection screensimilar to the one shown in FIG. 4( b). The receiving user 132 thenselects a printer, which then prints a paper copy of the electronicdocument 138. In an alternate embodiment, the receiving user 132 mayalso choose other ways to receive the electronic document 138, such asdownloading the electronic document 138 to the receiving computer 124.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of thepreferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of theinvention. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims. From the above discussion, many variations will beapparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A computer-implemented method for converting a paper document to anelectronic document and sending the electronic document to at least onedestination, said method comprising the steps of: sending commands, froma server computer to a sending computer with a connected scanner, thatcontrol the sending computer to scan the paper document, generate theelectronic document, and send the electronic document to the servercomputer; receiving the electronic document at the server computer; andsending the electronic document to a destination. 2.-21. (canceled)